Q1. iNCOVACC, which was approved as an intranasal booster dose for Covid, is manufactured by which institution?
[A] Serum Institute of India[B] Biological E Ltd
[C] Bharat Biotech
[D] Biocon
C – Explanation:
- The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has approved Bharat Biotech’s intranasal Covid vaccine as a booster dose for those above 18 years of age.
India’s first intranasal Covid vaccine iNCOVACC will be added to the CoWin app, which is a web platform for vaccination registration in the country. At present, only Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin, Serum Institute’s Covishield and Covovax, Russian Sputink V and Biological E Ltd’s Corbevax are listed in the CoWin portal.
Q2. Which institution won the DSCI AISS Award for ‘Best Security Practices in Government Sector’?
[A] Indian Railways[B] UIDAI
[C] ISRO
[D] NASSCOM
B – Explanation:
- The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has bagged a top data security award for best practices in the government sector.
Data Security Council of India (DSCI) is a not-for-profit industry body on data protection in India, setup by NASSCOM. DSCI awarded UIDAI for its significant role in securing ‘Aadhaar’ infrastructure that provides digital identity based welfare services to residents.
Q3. International Finance Corporation (IFC) has extended a USD 400-million loan to which company in India?
[A] SBI[B] Can Fin Homes
[C] HDFC
[D] LIC Housing Finance
C – Explanation:
- The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has extended a USD 400-million loan to mortgage major HDFC for financing green affordable housing units.
The loan will help close the urban housing gap and improve access to climate-smart affordable homes by boosting green housing, creating jobs and ensuring long-term business growth.
Q4.Who has been named as the captain of the Indian squad for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023?
[A] Harmanpreet Singh[B] P.R. Sreejesh
[C] Amit Rohidas
[D] Rupinder Pal Singh
A – Explanation:
- Harmanpreet Singh was named the captain of the 18-member Indian squad for the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup.
Hockey India announced the squad for the FIH men’s World Cup scheduled from January 13 to 29, 2023 in Bhubaneswar-Rourkela, Odisha. Amit Rohidas will be his deputy for the event.The Men in Blue will play its opening game against Spain at the newly built Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela.
Q5.Which country supplies S-400 air defence missile system to India?
[A] USA[B] Israel
[C] Russia
[D] France
C – Explanation:
- Russia will begin supplying India with the third squadron of the S-400 air defence missile system in January or February of next year.
India has already deployed its first two missile system squadrons to patrol the Ladakh sector, West Bengal’s Chicken’s Neck Corridor and the entire north-eastern region. India and Russia have agreed to a three-year ₹35,000 crore deal to buy five squadrons of S-400 air defence missiles.
Q6. Which country launched the ‘Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) spacecraft’?
[A] USA[B] Russia
[C] Israel
[D] China
A – Explanation:
- The US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched the Earth science satellite to track nearly all the water on Earth’s surface.
The Surface Water and Ocean Topography (SWOT) spacecraft was launched atop a SpaceX rocket with a mission of three years. The satellite will measure the height of water in freshwater bodies and the ocean on more than 90 per cent of Earth’s surface. This information will provide insights on how the ocean influences climate change.
Q7. ICMR-NARFBR (National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research) has been inaugurated in which city?
[A] Varanasi[B] Jaipur
[C] Hyderabad
[D] Mysuru
C – Explanation:
- Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya inaugurated ICMR-NARFBR (National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research) at Genome Valley in Hyderabad.
NARFBR is an apex facility which will provide ethical care and use and welfare of laboratory animals during research. The Centre will create processes for pre-clinical testing of new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics along with quality assurance checks.
Q8. Which institution adopted a plan for a global minimum 15 percent tax on multinational businesses?
[A] G-7[B] G-20
[C] European Union
[D] OPEC
C – Explanation:
- The European Union adopted a plan for a global minimum 15 percent tax on multinational businesses, after leaders gave final approval.
The historic agreement between nearly 140 countries is intended to stop governments racing to cut taxes to draw in the world’s richest firms to their territory. The plan was drawn up under the guidance of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Q9. Indian–origin leader Leo Varadkar has been elected as the Prime Minister of which country?
[A] Sri Lanka[B] Ireland
[C] Singapore
[D] Maldives
B – Explanation:
- Leo Varadkar takes over for the second time as Ireland’s Prime Minister. He is still one of Ireland’s youngest ever leaders even in his second stint in the role.
Varadkar’s Fine Gael and current premier Micheal Martin’s Fianna Fail parties is unprecedented in Irish history, agreed to the rotating premiership as part of a coalition with Ireland’s Greens following 2020 elections.
Q10.When is the ‘International Migrants Day’ celebrated every year?
[A] December 15[B] December 18
[C] December 21
[D] December 23
B – Explanation:
- International Migrants Day is being celebrated December 18 to focus toward the social and economic conditions of migrants all across the globe.
In 2020 over 281 million people were international migrants while over 59 million people were internally displaced by the end of 2021. The estimated number of international migrants has increased over the past five decades.
